Axis & Allies Global 1940 House Rules Expansion

[The Captain]

Concerning the OOB G40 Kamikaze rule, we are working on an Optional Rule for Kamikaze.

The Optional Rule includes regular Japanese Air units as well as the OOB Kamikaze Tokens.

More information will follow soon…

[The Captain]

Concerning the Japanese Kamikaze rule, we are play testing following Optional Rule:

• The Kamikaze Tokens that come with the G40 OOB rules are no longer used
• From Late 1944 Japan can launch Kamikaze attacks
• Japanese Kamikaze attacks can be launched anywhere on the game board
• Japan can launch a maximum of 1 Kamikaze attack in each round
• The Japanese player must choose a Japanese Air Unit to be used in a Kamikaze attack
• The Kamikaze Air Unit must be one of the following Air Units: Fighter, Tactical Bomber or Strategic Bomber
• The Kamikaze Air Unit can use up all its movement to reach an enemy Target Naval Unit
• The enemy naval unit that is attacked by Japanese Kamikaze must be the same type of naval units as mentioned in the G40 OOB rulebook
• The Japanese Kamikaze Air Unit attacks at “5”
• There is no defense against a Japanese Kamikaze attack

[barnee]

@The-Captain

sounds pretty good. I’m not sure about the 1 per rd though. In the past i would sometimes launch all six at a single BB and hope it was sunk. Now it would at best do 3 damage and the BB will be unaffected in the battle.

What do you think of two per turn ? Hitting at 5 would probably guarantee to sink it though. Idk, just a first impression :)

[The Captain]

@barnee

Concerning the number of Kamikaze Attacks, we have play tested two options so far:

• Unlimited number of Kamikaze Strikes in the same round with the use of the same Air units as mentioned above.
• The Air units that take part in the Kamikaze Attack must take off from from the Japanese Homeland

The unlimited number of Kamikaze Attacks - not only in the same round but from Late 1944 and for the rest of the game - simply pushed the Game Balance.

We reduced the number of Kamikaze Attacks gradually - and ended up with a maximum of 1 Kamikaze Attack each round

For game play reasons we chose to make it possible to use Kamikaze Attacks all over the Pacific, since this would reflect the Historic scenarios in the most realistic way.

We’ll see what the final play testing brings - we’ll most likely have it ready for use during this summer.

[The Captain]

As part of the Axis & Allies Global 1940 House Rules Expansion, we hav eadded a new Optional Rule: Flak Tower.

The Flak Tower rule is described in its own thread.

[barnee]

@The-Captain
Hi Captain

Running a test game with the new 'kazes. Definitely can change how JPN deploys there Navy :) I like the Historical aspect as well.

So far, although it’s harder for JPN, at least early on, I like it.

Edit
Actually pretty impactful imo. Cant rely on those 6 shots to help protect the Kaze zones

[barnee]

@The-Captain

Going back to the Wolfpack attacked with no DD present https://www.axisandallies.org/forums/topic/36945/axis-allies-global-1940-house-rules-expansion/523?page=21

Did you and the Company come to a conclusion on it ? The way I’ve been playing, is that the surviving U-boats still defend at 3 for the first rd.

[barnee]

@The-Captain

Did you guys ever try adding AA Guns to Total War ?

I remember you saying there not bought much in your games. I kinda like them myself :)
Would be better if only one hit counted out of the three imo, so you don’t get diced.
Can make those counterattacks potentially more damaging or require more units if you really want it, if you’re trading a TTy.

[The Captain]

@barnee

We chose to adapt the IPC cost from Classic & Revised to 5 IPC for an AAA unit.

This is the only change compared to the OOB G40 rules.

AAA was not suitable for Total War, due the OOB game mechanisms (1 AAA can roll maximum 3 dice) which seems to work just fine.

[barnee]

@The-Captain AA is 5 bucks in oob global.

Anyway, just wondered if you tried it.

[The Captain]

We are working on an Award-Winning Prize System for Axis & Allies players around the World.

This is part of the new foundation of the Northern Europe Axis & Allies Association.

The basic prize system is based on a certain number of Axis & Allies Global 1940 Expansion games the any player has to play.

We’ll open up a seperate thread for this Award-Winning Prize System soon.

[barnee]

@The-Captain

UK has made a Unprovoked DOW against JPN. ANZAC has taken control of some Dutch Islands.

Can JPN attack ANZAC controlled Dutch Islands without activating USA Natl Guard ?

Edit
It says unprovoked, so I’m thinking they can but … ?

[The Captain]

@barnee

Japan can attack UK and ANZAC without the US National Guard is activated, since the UK/ANZAC unprovoked attacked Japan first.

This includes that Japan can attack any Dutch islands that were already occupied by UK or ANZAC units.

If Japan unprovoked by USA attacks US units or US areas, the US National Guard is activated.

[barnee]

@The-Captain

Haven’t finished the 1st game with kamikazes yet, but it seems kind of a negative for JPN. If America goes hardcore Pacific, JPN could be under major pressure before Late 1944.

I know that is historically when they began to be used, but think that JPN woulda gone suicide mode sooner if needed.

OOB is 6 shots at 2 in select SZs . Avg says 2 hits, but you don’t know for sure. You have to plan for more and hope for less :)
Makes me less hesitant to engage in a big Naval Battle if I’m US. Although those are usually best avoided.

A Late 1943 start date would be better imo. JPN probably won’t use them unless they have to, but gives them the option if pressured. The best they can do is sink a CA or DD with a Naval Ftr, which has limited range, otherwise ends up a negative.

And that’s if they hit.

Anyway, just some feedback :)

[The Captain]

@barnee

We have made 1 change to the Kamikaze rule:

Carrier Based Fighter units cannot be used for a Kamikaze attack.

Why:
Since the preparation of a Kamikaze attack requires additional explosives and modification of the aircraft, the Carrier Based Fighter unit is not suitable for this purpose.
The requirements mentioned above would simply strain the capacity of an Aircraft Carrier unit.
For game play reasons this also seems more balanced, since the Japanese player would have to use an expensive air unit for the Kamikaze attack, rather than sacrificing a much cheaper Carrier Based Fighter unit.
This might make the Japanese player think twice before launching a Kamikaze attack.

1. Concerning the Japanese Strategy in the Pacific:
   Japan should not count the Kamikaze attacks as part of their strategy - whether or not the Kamikaze rule is OOB or Expansion.

If Japan is forced to use Kamikaze - the War is most likely over anyway.

Japan should only use the Kamikaze rule if an Allied player is careless - and there is an opportunity to inflict heavy casualty to an Allied Aircraft Carrier unit, Heavy Battleship unit etc.

The Expansion Kamikaze rule seems to give the Japanese player a better advantage rather than the OOB Kamikaze rule, since the attack has approximately 80 percentage chance of a hit - the attack is not limited to any specific sea zone - and also Japan has limitless number of Kamikaze attacks available (though only 1 attack in each round).

2. Concerning the US Strategy in the Pacific:
   Whether or not the Japanese Kamikaze rule is from OOB rules or from Expansion rules, the US amphibious assaults that are made in the Pacific are for the most part a “one way ticket”.
   Transport units do not have the time or get the chance to go back to the Western USA to pick up fresh reinforcements.

Since Transport units cannot be attacked by Kamikaze, the US player can launch an amphibious assault with Transport units only - supported by air units and Submarine units (if there is a Naval battle - or if Japan scrambles air units against the Transport units).
This hinder that Japan can attack with Kamikaze.

Then during Non-Combat Movement, the US player can move the Naval Task Force into the sea zone where the Transport units launched the assault - to protect the Transport units from Japanese counter-attacks.

[barnee]

@The-Captain

Hi Captain

Type XXI U-boat question. If XXI attacks a solo unit and scores a hit, the sunk vessel cannot return fire, even if it’s a DD/Convoy ?

The XXI would have to stay in the SZ and not withdraw though. Is that correct ?

That seems to imply it can’t fire back.

Edit
There was a Ftr that scrambled, would that allow it to withdraw ? I mean it can’t hit the Ftr but the Ftr would get to shoot back because the Escort enables it.

If the Ftr didn’t scramble, then it can’t withdraw and Ftr can only attack it if it misses and doesn’t withdraw.

[The Captain]

@barnee

If the Type XXI U-Boat unit scores a hit it can withdraw before any surviving units can return fire - including enemy Fighter units.

If the sea zone is cleared from enemy naval units the Type XXI U-boat unit can still withdraw, since it scored a hit.

If the Type XXI U-boat unit stays in that sea zone the enemy Fighter unit that scrambled would be able to return fire since there is (was) a Destroyer unit present at the time of the U-Boat attack.

[barnee]

@The-Captain said in Axis & Allies Global 1940 House Rules Expansion:

If the sea zone is cleared from enemy naval units the Type XXI U-boat unit can still withdraw, since it scored a hit.

Oh that is Awesome ! If they have a safe place to withdraw to, 10 of those bad boys could do some serious damage to an Allied Fleet :)

[The Captain]

@barnee

True - the Type XXI U-Boat unit is not only a hard hitting unit. It’s presence on the game board forces the Allies to take counter measures.

When the Type XXI U-Boat rule was gradually developed, we carefully studied the Historical German developement, training and use of the Type XXI U-Boat.

Even though the Type XXI U-Boat unit enters the game at a late stage of the War, it could be one of the weapons in the German arsenal that might bring Final Victory.

We have seen this occur in a few games where the German player simply mass produces Type XXI U-Boat units - and simply eliminates the Allied Atlantic Naval Task Forces.

[barnee]

@The-Captain said in Axis & Allies Global 1940 House Rules Expansion:

and simply eliminates the Allied Atlantic Naval Task Forces.

ha ha ha